pellagra
/pəˈlæɡrə/
noun
- A disease caused by a lack of niacin (vitamin B3) in the diet, characterized by skin inflammation, diarrhea, and mental confusion.
- In the early 1900s, many poor farmers in the southern United States suffered from pellagra due to a diet heavy in corn.
- Doctors now know that pellagra can be prevented by eating foods rich in niacin, such as meat and whole grains.
- The patient's red, scaly skin and digestive problems were classic signs of pellagra.